Fun things to do in Karachi

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One of the oldest lighthouses near Karachi, the structure is much higher than the one at Manora. The height is approx. 167 feet. The status of this lighthouse has been downgraded to a beacon (thus the black & white markings), which emits an audio signal directing ships towards Karachi.

The isolated lighthouse coast was flooded with seashells, and rocky enclave inhabited by crabs.

Entry is restricted via Nathiagali. You will require Navy’s permission to first access the base, and then a 4x4 to drive towards the lighthouse. Along the way we saw some very ancient graves of Arabs generals who came to this place 1000 of years ago.

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Nathiagali is a naval base, the last point on Karachi’s coastline. Access is RESTRCTED. One can only go if you have senior ranked connection in the armed forces, and accompanied by your host. Your host will have to make a booking in advance through his or her unit. If you do not have this host, you will not be allowed to enter the base.

We visited this base along with our friend in the Navy. It is a very exclusive beach, untouched, and very clean. On one side is the Cape, the other the ocean. Slightly off the beaten path one can also visit the Cape Monze lighthouse. Along the way we saw some very ancient graves of Arabs generals who came to this place 1000 of years ago.

The highlight of our trip was a BBQ organized late in the evening, and watching the green phosphorus light up the dark waves crashing on the shoreline.

Situated in the upscale area of Clifton, overlooking the Arabian Sea. Legend has it that Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mazar protects the inhabitant of Karachi from calamities thrown towards this populace city from the sea.

Abdullah Shah Ghazi was a Sufi saint who came to this area 1400 years ago. He preached Islam to the local population and was revered as a great patron to the community. Hundred thousand of people daily throng to his shrine today, which is situated high above a small hill overlooking the sea. Many people have claimed that their wishes have been granted at his shrine.

He is also revered by the fishermen community as well. It is claimed he had great powers over the sea. Legend has it that once the sea was rough, the fisherman approached him to calm the sea down. He took sea water into his bowl, curled the bowl closed and requested the sea to be calmed. The sea calmed down, and the fishermen went about their business.

Since then a lot of tropical storms and cyclones have approached Karachi, threatening the coastal area. And before the cyclones could hit at full force, it either dispersed or changed direction.

It is said that Abdullah Shah Ghazi is the patron saint of Karachi, who has protected the city from such calamities.

News report on the Saint’s Mazar and his perceived miracles.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/22004/the-legend-of-shah-ghazi/
http://tribune.com.pk/story/18430/the-saints-will-protect-karachi-from-cyclone-phet/

Few must go places in KAKACHI even if you are here for a day of two: 1) Sites and sounds: A) City of under passes and over head (from shara-e-fasil to Hulks bay) B) Beaches (Hulks bay, sumine) C) Islands (Manoa and one near Gavader) 2) Shopping: A) Park towers B) Forum C) Tariq Road and Bahadrabad D) Zamzama and Khada market E) Zanib Market 3) Eating outs: A) Super Highway B) B B Q to night C) Many at sea view (china town, village and usmania, Clifton Grill) D) Many hang outs at Zamzama (chao, latitude, Nawab) 4) Hang outs: A) Go Ash (Amusement park) B) Area 51 C) Damascus (for shesha) D) Water parks at Super Highway 5) Religious Places: A) Churches, Mosques and Hindu temples B) Tombs of Muslim and Hindu Saints C) Chokandi`s grave yard

I visited during Eid and that was definitely different from what I'm used to! During the days leading up to Eid everyone purchased animals, fed them, and decorated them. In the evening time the kids would run around the streets with their animals. Then over a period of three days they would sacrifice the animals. On the third day I attended a camel sacrifice.

Recommendation: At the camel sacrifice, there was HUGE crowd of people. One of my friends knew someone who let us watch from the roof of their home. Not only did this provide a better view but it kept us out of the crowd.

Everyone seemed okay with my taking photos. I think it's important to make sure you ask first.

This isn't good for people with weak stomachs or low tolerance. The camel sacrifice gets rather bloody, but it seemed like they cleaned up well after the sacrifices very quickly! THis is a wonderful culture experience that you'll never forget!

It's fun if you're a woman to go shopping in the bazaars. If you're an American you should wear a head scarf because if it's so obvious that you're a foreigner the shops will inflate their prices and try to make you pay more. Then your family/friends will argue with them because they know they are trying to cheat you, and you will be standing there clueless because you can't understand what they're saying. I found lots of cheap scarves that are nice and would probably cost about $15-$20 at Target back in the States. I also found lots of nice jewelry and textiles for cheap, and nice bags.

If you go to Sunday Bazaar don't eat in the food area because you'll probably get sick. I did.

Also, be prepared to sit in ridiculous traffic most places you go in Karachi, but it was terrible when I visited Sunday Bazaar.

If you go during the cooler time of the year.. like December-January, you can expect to attend a few weddings. This was pretty fun to me because I liked looking at all of the saris and shalwars that the ladies were wearing. As an American woman, I wasn't too sure what to wear. So I wore black dress slacks, heels, and a nice top to most of the ones we went to. But one of the couples we actually knew so I wore a sari. I couldn't move in that thing so I just sat there with the other ladies while we made the men bring us food! There's not much to do at the weddings except eat.

It is a little weird arriving at some of them because there's huge cameras and stuff taking your picture as you come in. And at a couple of them the men are separated from the women.

Also, you might want to take a shawl because they are mainly in tents outside and it can get kind of chilly.

Visiting the memorial of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, is a nice thing to do. There's also a small museum that has his car and some of his clothes and furniture in it. You can't take pictures in there, but they will let you take photos inside the big dome. It's fun to watch the military guys change guards. You have to take your shoes off.